Bubur Cha Cha (Nyonya Coconut Milk Dessert)

‘Bubur cha-cha’ is a coconut milk sweet soup which commonly contains sweet potatoes and taro. In Malaysia and Singapore, bubur cha cha is usually served as a dessert or sometimes for supper. This coconut milk dessert is also one of the more popular Nyonya/Peranakan dessert.

Category

Difficulty

Total Time

Yield

Ingredients

80 g

tapioca flour

1300 ml

water

—

food coloring

140 g

taro

140 g

sweet potato(es)

40 g

sago

160 g

sugar

250 g

coconut milk

0.25 tsp

salt

3

pandan leaves

1

banana(s)

Background

‘Bubur cha cha’ is a coconut milk dessert which is popular in Malaysia and Singapore for its quirky name and also beautiful colours. This sweeten coconut milk soup is served throughout the day as a dessert, snack or even supper. Commonly found sold by street vendors in Penang, bubur cha cha is a big favourite among locals. Similar to the cha cha dance, this coconut milk dessert is fun especially with the variety of ingredients and colours.

Tips to prepare tapioca jellies

It may be not that easy to make these tapioca jellies. They look really pretty, like stained glass. Many commented that these tapioca jellies did not turn out too well. The trick to preparing the jellies is to use really hot water. The water has to be boiling hot!

Cooking sago

As for cooking the sago, ensure that enough of water is used to prevent them from sticking together. The ratio of water to sago should be 10 to 1. Sago should only be added to water when it is boiling. Adding sago to room temperature water will dissolve the sago. As you cook the sago, keep stirring to avoid them from clumping up.

Basic and optional ingredients in bubur cha cha

A basic bowl of bubur cha cha consist of taro and some sweet potatoes. As in this recipe, other ingredients are added to enhance the flavour of the dish. Other optional ingredients you may add are pearled sago, black eyed peas, yam, tapioca, banana, sweet potatoes and tapioca jellies. Banana slices add an extra punch to this bubur cha cha. You may choose and pick your combination of ingredients for bubur cha cha.

Cold or warm bubur cha cha

Bubur cha cha can be served both cold or warm. Refrigerate bubur cha cha for at least 3 hours to serve it chilled. You may also refrigerate bubur cha cha up to 24 hours and reheat if you would like to serve it hot. Since bubur cha cha contains coconut milk, it should not be kept for too long.

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Steps

Step 1/6

To prepare the tapioca jelly, create a dough by adding water to the tapioca flour. The water has to be boiling hot or else the flour would not form a dough.

Step 2/6

food coloring

500 ml water

Divide the dough into two portions and add red and green colouring separately. Flatten the doughs and cut them into smaller pieces. Heat up water in a pot to boil the pieces of dough until they turn translucent. Once cooked, put them into a bowl of cold water to prevent them from sticking together.